1. (a)

   1. (1) There is established the School Security Program. The board shall adopt rules to implement and administer the program pursuant to this chapter.
   2. (2) The board shall require that at least once every five years, the school facilities under the jurisdiction of each local board of education shall be inspected by at least one school security inspector to determine the compliance of the school facility and the local board of education with the school security criteria established pursuant to subsection (b).

2. (b)

   1. (1) The board shall establish criteria for school security inspections. The criteria shall be established in consultation with the department’s regional school safety coordinators and any other entities or individuals as determined by the board. The criteria shall include a rubric that school security inspectors must use to evaluate each school facility during an inspection. The rubric shall include, but not be limited to, standards for each of the following:

      1. a. Security cameras.
      2. b. Alarm systems.
      3. c. Locks on exterior and interior doors.
      4. d. Emergency escapes.
      5. e. Fire extinguishers.
      6. f. Intercoms and communications equipment.
      7. g. Panic buttons.
      8. h. Any other physical measures used to strengthen the security of school facilities, school buses, and school grounds, including, but not limited to, criteria related to intrusion detection, fencing, and windows.
   2. (2) The board shall periodically review and update the criteria and rubric to ensure that both accurately reflect current best practices relating to school security.
3. (c) Inspections under this chapter shall be completed by one or more school security inspectors. The board shall adopt rules relating to the selection of school security inspectors. School security inspectors shall be neutral and nonbiased individuals with some background experience relating to school security or school facilities, as determined by the board. Each school security inspector shall be certified through a state, federal, or other industry professional course relating to physical security. Upon request, the school security inspector must provide proof of his or her certification to the department, ALEA, and the State Fire Marshal. A regional school safety coordinator may not be a school security inspector but may attend school security inspections for the purposes of reviewing the accuracy and currentness of the school security criteria and rubric.

4. (d)

   1. (1) Following an inspection, the school security inspector who conducted the inspection shall provide each school facility with a school security rubric rating. The school security inspector shall also provide each local board of education whose school facilities that he or she inspects with the school security rubric rating for each school facility and recommendations to improve school security.
   2. (2) A school security rubric rating may be assigned the color green, yellow, or red. A “green” rating shall indicate the highest level of compliance with the school security criteria, a “red” rating shall indicate serious needs, and a “yellow” rating shall indicate minor needs.

5. (e)

   1. (1) The School Security and Fire Safety Fund is created within the State Treasury.

   2. (2)

      1. a. The board may award grants to local boards of education to assist those local boards in complying with the school security criteria established pursuant to subsection (b).
      2. b. The board may award grants to local boards of education to assist those local boards in complying with fire safety recommendations made by the state Fire Marshal or his or her assistants, as defined by Section 36-19-3.
   3. (3) A local board of education that receives a grant from the fund shall ensure that the expenditure of any grant funds will be used to improve school facilities in compliance with the state building code and rules adopted by the board, including rules related to school facilities.
   4. (4) The board shall develop an application form and adopt procedures for the administration of the fund, including for the development of application criteria. The board shall prioritize schools with the most need as demonstrated through the school security inspection rubric rating and local boards of education that have completed a facilities assessment through the department’s regional school safety training program.
   5. (5) Any monies appropriated shall be budgeted and allotted pursuant to the Budget Management Act in accordance with Article 4, commencing with Section 41-4-80 of Chapter 4 of Title 41, and only in the amounts provided by the Legislature in the general appropriations act or other appropriations act.

(Act 2024-356, §3.)